Job Description

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is the place to be! We have developed an innovative, integrated model of children's community services and now looking to appoint enthusiastic individuals to join our friendly and dedicated county-wide professional team.



We are excited to be advertising for a Full Time Senior Early Years Practitioner to support our Early Child Development Pathway of care in North Devon, Exeter, Torbay and South Devon



The Early Child Development Pathway provides assessment, and therapy plans for children aged 0 - 5 years where there is evidence of possible or significant delay that is affecting the child in two or three areas of their development.



The Senior Early Years Practitioner will be required to provide co-ordinated leadership and supervision to the Complex Early Years Practitioners across the CFHD Infant and Early Years Pathway ensuring effective evidence-based delivery of clinical interventions.



Important Information Regarding Service Changes

We are currently entering into a formal consultation process to move all Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) staff to a single provider. As part of this process, staff currently employed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust will transfer to Devon Partnership NHS Trust on 1 April 2026. Please note that this may result in some differences in recruitment documentation and processes during this transition period.



Work in partnership with the Specialist Children's Assessment Service Manager on both day-to-day operations and the strategic development of the service.



Provide professional leadership and line management to Early Years Practitioners, ensuring effective delivery of assessments and therapeutic input.



Ensure practitioner competency by overseeing professional standards, supporting development, and maintaining high-quality practice.



Liaise with families and multi-agency professionals to promote an integrated, coordinated approach throughout the assessment and service-planning process.



Support Early Years Practitioners in key-working roles, ensuring continuity and consistency of care for children through assessment and intervention cycles.



Lead on assessments for complex cases, including those involving significant needs or safeguarding concerns.



Contribute to maintaining a safe, reliable, and high-quality service, ensuring effective delivery aligned with organisational standards.



Senior Early Years Practitioners work closely with all users of our services, as well as their families and carers, all of whom make an invaluable contribution to how our services are experienced. Staff are expected to be compassionate, responsive, professional and informative, and to contribute to the quality of services provided across the health economy by:



Keeping service users as safe as possible through the application of sound clinical skills, effective risk assessment and appropriate supervision.



Ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes by maintaining up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence-based policies and procedures.



Providing a positive service experience by respecting, empowering and working in partnership with individuals throughout the care-planning process.



Build strong, compassionate relationships with children, young people, and families, ensuring sensitive communication, informed consent, advocacy, and timely responses to concerns.



Work collaboratively with families, internal teams, and external agencies to coordinate assessments, share information, and develop personalised care plans that support children's developmental needs.



Provide safe, high-quality, evidence-based clinical practice by using sound judgement, adapting assessments, maintaining accurate records, managing waiting lists, and contributing to MDT processes.



Ensure a culture of continuous improvement through reflective practice, identifying training needs, maintaining professional development, and supporting consistent standards, policies, and pathways.



Safeguard infants and young children by recognising and escalating concerns, maintaining transparency in practice, and supporting staff through supervision, observation, and quality assurance.



Lead, manage, and support Early Years Practitioner teams through supervision, performance management, training coordination, recruitment, wellbeing support, and adherence to organisational policies.